No one said Tiger and MRH90 had the same engines! They have the same EWSP fit - and that's a significant plus.
"Army wanted AH-64..." There are 25000 people in 'Army' Not all of them say the same thing, let alone the right thing. Perhaps "some people in the Army wanted AH-64" would be more accurate. Some people in the Army want jet boots and nuclear hand grenades; doesn't mean they're a good idea.
And trips to France are pretty much like trips to America, except that it's France, and not America. People are still going to have to travel overseas. I really don't think the location of the factory was much of a player when cabinet sat down to make the decision.